In Soviet times, 40 million rubles were allocated for the technical re-equipment of the Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO), where Tu-160 strategic bombers were produced. The Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ) received 40 times less for these purposes, said the former general director of the enterprise Alexander Lavrentiev.
According to him, 32 million rubles were sent to the Kazan Engine-Building Production Association, while the helicopter plant received only 1 million. Employees worked in old wooden buildings, built even for the production of wagon parts.
Lavrentiev explained the difference in funding by the priorities of the Ministry of Aviation Industry of the USSR.
You've been making equipment for 20 years, everything is well-established. Why should we give you money? But for them, it's not established.
After the department's management saw the working conditions at KVZ, new buildings began to be built for the enterprise. According to Lavrentiev's recollections, two buildings, each with an area of 8 thousand m2, were erected within eight months.
It also became known that KVZ was offered to transfer the capacities of the Kazan Helicopter Plant to the enterprise. This request was ultimately not satisfied.